A Web & Mobile App for the HR Industry

Cooleaf Case Study

From startup to profitable product for the B2B market

Joanna TrochimiukAccount Manager at Monterail

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It took Monterail 6 weeks to deliver us a beautifully designed app for iOS and Android. I didn't even know it was possible! Each stage of the development was conducted professionally and in a timely manner: from the concept, through the implementation to final steps.John DuisbergCo-founder at Cooleaf

Scope and highlights

product workshops

mobile app development

rails and angular app

16kactive users

8years of partnership

2months to the first mvp

The Challenge

The founders of Cooleaf came to us with an MVP of a B2B Web-based product. At first it was an HR platform focused on employee benefits, but during that first year of our collaboration the entire idea behind the app evolved a lot. The result? In 2013, we started working on a completely new concept of the MVP—a platform letting teams find activities they love, to empower shared interests and passions. Here’s where this story begins.

The founders needed a cutting-edge Rails app that was responsive and up to current Web application standards, just like modern social media platforms. The challenge entailed working out solutions in three core areas:

Defining a completely novel idea for the product and delivering an unprecedented user experience

In-depth analysis of the product to define its purpose and come up with new features

Delivering the product MVP including design, frontend, and backend

The Process

We wanted the new product to appeal to corporate-level organizations and in order to do this, we opened an intense design-oriented conversation with the client. We started with 120 hours of online design workshops conducted via Skype. Within just two months, we managed to build not only the MVP, but also a Minimum Buyable Product.

After releasing the product to market, it became clear that Cooleaf needed a mobile version of the app, as well. They came to us with a half-finished mobile application that was difficult to maintain and develop further. To facilitate the prompt and efficient delivery of mobile apps for both Android and iOS, we suggested switching to the Ionic framework. Our core efforts at this stage included:

Rewriting the hard to maintain native codebase for mobile

Finalizing the design phase in both the Web and mobile versions of the app

Developing the mobile app and releasing it to app stores after a total of 273 hours of work

Using Ionic, we managed to develop a two-platform solution for Cooleaf in just two months. Soon after release, the app was named the Best B2B Application at the 2016 Atlanta Mobile Awards. We were overjoyed!Kasia Tatomirproject manager

The Outcome

We managed to release both the Web and mobile apps according to established deadlines and it felt absolutely great. With a swift MVP release, the Cooleaf sales team could immediately begin to look for market fit. Since delivering on key project objectives, the pace of our collaboration with Cooleaf went back to “normal.” At present, we use Agile methodologies to periodically deliver a releasable product, allowing Cooleaf to focus on marketing and sales.

Currently, Cooleaf is working with a number of enterprise clients across the globe, including Citibank and the Turner Broadcasting System. The success of the project hinged on three key factors:

The role of Project Manager, who served as a consultant and point of contact, and translated between technical and business stakeholders

The flexibility and confidence of the design and development teams

The collaborative relationship between Monterail and Cooleaf

My job is to gather your requirements, answer all your questions and push your idea into development as fast as possible.